He goes to rake a hand through his juststyled hair and stops. “How could I forget? All I remember thinking is howbadly I wanted to get you out of that dress.” He walks up to me, twirling thehem in his hand. “It was the night I gave you this.” Cole’s hand skims up mythigh, caressing my love bite. My eyes flutter closed, his touch eliciting thatnow all too familiar, pleasurable ache. His other hand strokes my neck. “Whereare you going tonight?” His fingers continue to rub circles on my thigh and hemoves closer to me, kissing and nipping my jaw.
“Hmm, dinner, a little last-minuteshopping, some place Laura won’t tell me, and Nightlifer,”
“Perfect, we’re going to end atNightlifer, too. I don’t think I’d be able to handle not seeing you tonight inthis dress.”
“Good, you have something to look forwardto.” I back away from him, but at the last minute, he grabs me, pulling meback.
His growl is low and guttural. “Cookie,you naughty girl. I’m going to make it my goal to get you out of this dresstonight.”
“Well then, I guess it will be my goal tomake you work for it.” I turn around, rubbing my backside against Cole’s groin.He hisses in my ear. “Be a dear and do up my dress.” His fingers linger at thefabric, like he just can’t bear to fasten the hooks. They stroke the exposedskin a few times, and then I feel Cole’s soft lips along the nape of my neck.“Cole, baby, in about five minutes, our closest friends and family are going tobe here.”
“They can wait a few…” His words aresoft, his breath hot on my neck.
“Just a few, huh? The clasps Cole.”
“Later.” He kisses my back again and doesup the clasp.
I turn around and tangle my hands intothe front of his jacket. “Thank you.” I breathe over his lips, then meld themwith mine. I flick my tongue out and he draws it into his mouth.
“Hello…” We hear from the other room.
“Right on time.” I smile into Cole’smouth.
“Don’t forget who you belong to tonight,Cookie.” And he playfully swats my butt.
“Ooh…you either, Mr. Holt.”
“Never.” He wraps an arm around my waistand we walk together out of the bedroom.
In the living room, Kit, Race, Cooper,and Luke, who I almost don’t recognize because he’s wearing slacks, and acollared shirt without a tie, are all standing around the coffee table whileKit pours pink liquid into champagne glasses.
“Oh pink champagne.” Really, I should becompletely turned off by the alcohol, but the smell of the strawberries and redcurrant are inviting and I want a drink. I pull away from Cole, but he doesn’tlet my hand go. “Do I get a drink?” All the men just stare at me, and I’msuddenly self-conscious. I turn back to Cole. “What’s wrong? Do I havesomething on my face?”
Cole gives me his tooth-paste ad andbends down kissing me. “No baby, you’ve just stunned them into silence withyour beauty.”
I hit him on the shoulder. “Stop it.”
Cooper clears his throat. “Kate, we havesomething for you.”
I turn back around. “A present?”
Kit scratches the back of his head.“Something like that. Just give it to her, Coop.”
“Yeah Coop.” I hold out my hand. He pullsout an envelope, handing it to me. It feels like it has something solid in it.I eye Cooper cautiously.
“What is it?” I peek inside the envelopeand pull out a little yellow sign that says: ‘Bun in the Oven.’ My eyes getwide. I’m not surprised they know. I think they’re worse than gossiping teenagegirls. And somehow I’m not surprised that they are playing a joke on me. Theylove how I react to things. “Cole,” I half whisper. “You told them we’re goingto have a baby? I thought we decided to wait until after the wedding in Idaho?”I look up at the men. Kit’s mouth is hanging open, Cooper’s eyes are wide andRace won’t look at me.
I can’t keep the smile off my face andlaugh. “Oh my heck, you all deserve that.” There is an audible sigh fromeveryone in the room. “Just for that…” I take Kit’s drink out of his hand. Andtake a sip. “…I get your drink.”
“I told you that was a bad idea.” Raceelbows Kit.
“Well, I never thought she’d turn aroundand play us.” Kit retorts, a bit chagrined.
“That was pretty great, Kate.” Lukesalutes me with his glass.
“Thanks Luke.”
“Yeah baby, you left me a bitdumbfounded.” Cole’s hand slides from my hip to my backside.
